Crybaby - Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Six of the blockbuster new novel, Crybaby by best-selling, multi-award-winning author Mark Watson...
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CRYBABY
©Copyright 2024 by Mark Watson
CHAPTER 26
THE WETLANDS
The first rays of sunlight filtered through the rainforest canopy, turning the thick morning mist into a golden haze. The air was heavy with the scent of damp earth and decaying leaves, a heady aroma that clung to everything like an invisible shroud. Birds called out in cascading melodies, and the occasional chatter of monkeys echoed through the trees. But the team moved in near silence, their senses sharpened by the weight of their task.
Ahanna led the group, machete in hand, slicing through vines and undergrowth as they skirted the river through the rainforest. The rangers followed closely, rifles slung over their shoulders and eyes darting to every shadow. Behind them, the two kumki elephants lumbered along the narrowing trail, their mahouts perched high on their broad backs, murmuring soft commands. The sheer size of the elephants contrasted with their careful, deliberate movements, but even these trained giants seemed uneasy, their trunks swinging low to sniff the humid air.
By midday, the trail had led them into a wetland area, where the terrain shifted dramatically. The firm forest floor gave way to a treacherous patchwork of boggy ground, every step threatening to suck their boots into the earth. Marsh grasses grew in wild tangles, their sharp-edged stalks rising up to chest height in some places, while patches of standing water shimmered beneath the sparse canopy, reflecting the dappled sunlight above. The air hung thick with humidity, clinging to their skin and clothes like a damp shroud.
The once-clear trail of trampled vegetation and unmistakable footprints had vanished, swallowed by the muck and stagnant pools. Ahanna crouched to inspect what little evidence remained—a single broken reed, a faint swirl of disturbed mud—but even these faint signs soon became indistinguishable from the natural chaos of the wetlands. The terrain here seemed alive and deceptive, constantly shifting and rearranging itself as if conspiring to hide the rogue elephant’s passage.
Mosquitoes swarmed in relentless clouds, their high-pitched buzz a maddening soundtrack to the rangers’ progress. The insects bit at any exposed skin, leaving angry welts despite the layers of clothing and hastily applied repellent. Nearby, waterlogged tree trunks jutted out of the mire like skeletal fingers, their blackened surfaces slimy with algae. Beneath the surface of the pools, faint ripples betrayed unseen movement. Mugger crocodiles, their scaly bodies blending seamlessly with the murky water, splashed away as the hunting party's noise grew louder. Some slipped into deeper pools with barely a ripple, their presence lingering like a silent warning.
The oppressive heat and the weight of their soaked gear slowed the group to a crawl. Rahul muttered curses under his breath as he pulled his boots free from the sucking mud with each step, while Raj scanned the horizon with his tranquilizer gun, his gaze flitting nervously between the pools and the dense reeds ahead. The kumki elephants moved cautiously, their wide feet adept at navigating the marshy terrain but their usually steady gait now marked with hesitation. They paused often, their trunks swinging low to sniff the ground or swaying as they tested the air for unfamiliar scents.
Ahanna halted the group and scanned the area, her brow furrowed. “We’ve lost the trail,” she said, more to herself than anyone else.
Raj knelt by the last patch of muddy ground before it turned into wetland, running his fingers over the faint impressions left by heavy steps. “These tracks are at least a day old,” he said, standing and wiping his hands on his pants.
“He’s smart. This always happens, as soon as you start hunting a rogue elephant they disappear,” Rahul muttered, swatting a mosquito off his neck. His rifle was slung loosely over his shoulder, his free hand adjusting the straps of his pack. “Maybe he’s doubling back to make fools of us.”
Ahanna shot him a glare but said nothing. Instead, she turned to the drone operator, who was hunched over his tablet, his fingers flying across the screen as he directed the buzzing machine overhead.
“Anything?” she asked.
“Nothing new,” the operator replied grimly, shaking his head. “The wetlands make it harder to get a clear view from above. The canopy’s too thick in some places, and the reflections from the water are throwing off the cameras.”
Ahanna sighed, wiping sweat from her brow.
“Sweep wider,” she ordered. “Crybaby’s been through here, work on the assumption that he’s following the river.”
The operator nodded and adjusted the controls, but his expression was skeptical.
Rahul leaned against a jutting, broken tree, watching her with a faint smirk. “You’re determined, I’ll give you that,” he said. “But this is starting to feel like a wild goose chase.”
“Some goose,” Ahanna snapped, her voice sharp. “We need to find him soon, or he’ll strike again.”
“Assuming he hasn’t already,” Rahul muttered under his breath.
Raj, ever watchful, stood nearby, his tranquilizer gun at the ready. He exchanged a glance with Ahanna, silently backing her up as tension simmered between her and Rahul.
As the afternoon wore on, the team pressed deeper into the wetlands, their progress slowed by the difficult terrain. The kumkis waded through the muddy pools, their trunks probing the water ahead of them like living sensors. The mahouts sat rigid, their eyes scanning the jungle for any sign of movement.
Every now and then, the group paused to reassess, marking faint impressions in the mud or noting broken branches that might indicate Crybaby’s passage. But each clue led to another dead end, the trail growing colder with every step.
They pressed on, the jungle seemed to grow quieter, the cacophony of birds and insects fading into an uneasy stillness. The wetlands were an unforgiving place, a labyrinth of water, reeds, and hidden dangers. Every step forward felt like an intrusion, as though the land itself resented their presence.
The group stopped briefly at the edge of a larger pool. The water stretched out before them, dark and still, its surface broken only by the occasional bubble or drifting patch of vegetation. A faint splash echoed from somewhere within the reeds, followed by the low croak of a frog. Ahanna stared at the pool’s far edge, where the dense greenery resumed. For a moment, she thought she saw movement—something large and shadowy slipping between the trees—but when she blinked, it was gone.
“We’re chasing a demon in a maze,” Rahul muttered, kicking at the water in frustration.
“No,” Ahanna said firmly, her eyes narrowing. “He’s out there. We’re just not looking in the right place yet.”
The wetlands seemed to taunt them with false leads, distant rustling in the trees that sent hearts racing. Once, they even thought they spotted Crybaby in the distance—a dark, hulking figure moving through the trees. But when they reached the spot, there was nothing but thick mud and a family of startled deer bounding away.
By the time the sun dipped low in the sky, casting long shadows across the swampy terrain, the team was visibly drained. Sweat soaked their clothes, and even the kumkis seemed slower, their usual rumbling calls subdued.
“We need to stop for the night,” Raj said quietly, glancing at Ahanna. “We’re not going to make progress in the dark.”
Ahanna hesitated, her jaw tightening. She hated to admit defeat, even temporarily, but the exhaustion etched on the faces of her team—and the growing frustration in Rahul’s—left her no choice.
“Fine,” she said finally. “We’ll camp here. But stay sharp. If Crybaby’s nearby, he might come for us.”
The group began setting up camp on an elevated patch of dry ground, the rangers working quickly to erect tents while the mahouts tethered the kumkis to sturdy trees. Lanterns were lit, casting flickering light over the damp, shadowy clearing.
Rahul dropped his pack with a heavy thud, wiping his brow as he surveyed the camp. “Comfortable,” he said with a smirk, “if you don’t mind the smell of swamp and mosquitoes the size of sparrows.”
Ahanna ignored him, her focus on the perimeter. The jungle around them seemed darker than usual, the shadows stretching impossibly long. As the group settled in for the night, Ahanna couldn’t shake the feeling that they were being watched. Crybaby was out there somewhere, hidden in the vast, impenetrable jungle. And he wouldn’t stay hidden forever.
“Tonight we’ll reverse the watch,” Ahanna said, her tone firm as she surveyed the group. “Raj, you’re up first. I’ll take the second shift, and Rahul, you’ll cover the final watch.”
“Fine by me,” Rahul replied with a shrug, already turning toward his tent. “Finally, some sleep!” His voice carried a note of feigned cheerfulness, but the sharp glance he shot at Ahanna before ducking into his tent didn’t escape her notice.
As the camp settled into an uneasy quiet, Ahanna found Raj sitting at the edge of the firelight, sharpening his machete with slow, deliberate strokes. The jungle around them hummed with the sounds of the night—a chaotic symphony of chirping insects, distant calls, and the rustling of unseen creatures. Ahanna hesitated, glancing toward Rahul’s tent. She could see his shadow moving faintly inside as he arranged his gear. He wouldn’t stay awake much longer; even Rahul needed rest eventually.
Ahanna crouched beside Raj, her voice low but firm. "I need you to do something for me."
Raj paused mid-stroke, his keen eyes flicking to her face. "What’s this about?"
"Rahul," she said, keeping her voice even. "I need you to search his pack. Look for anything that might... confirm some suspicions I have."
Raj’s brows furrowed, his knife still in his hand. "Suspicions? About what?"
Ahanna glanced around, ensuring no one else was within earshot. The mahouts were either asleep or too far away to hear. "There’s more to him than what he’s letting on. I think maybe he was involved with the bandits somehow. The more I think about it, the more it makes sense. Look what happened when they ambushed us on the road, Rahul popped up just in time. It’s like he knew beforehand where they were going to be. The more I think about it the less it seems like pure coincidence."
Raj’s frown deepened. "Bandits? That’s a hell of an accusation, Ahanna."
"I wouldn’t bring it up if I wasn’t sure," she said firmly. "But I need proof before I confront him outright. If he’s hiding something, it’ll be in his belongings."
Raj leaned back, running a hand over his jaw as he considered her words. "You know how dangerous this is, right? If he catches me, he won’t just let it slide."
"That’s why I’m asking you, Raj," Ahanna said. "You’re the only one I trust to do this quietly."
Raj let out a slow breath, his gaze drifting toward Rahul’s tent. "And what if you’re wrong? What if there’s nothing to find?"
"Then I’ll owe him an apology," Ahanna admitted. "But if I’m right... we need to know what we’re dealing with before it’s too late."
Raj’s fingers tightened around the hilt of his machete. He didn’t answer right away, his eyes fixed on the flickering firelight. Finally, he gave a small nod. "Fine. But if this backfires, we’re both in trouble."
"It won’t," Ahanna assured him. "Wait until he’s asleep. Be careful."
Raj got to his feet, moving toward the outskirts of the camp. Ahanna watched him disappear into the shadows, her chest tightening with a mix of guilt and unease. She hated putting Raj in this position, but she couldn’t ignore the growing danger Rahul posed—not just to her, but to the entire team.
The minutes crawled by like hours. From her vantage point, Ahanna saw the light in Rahul’s tent flicker and then go dark. The camp grew quieter still, the fire reduced to glowing embers. She caught a glimpse of Raj slipping through the shadows, his movements silent and precise.
Her heart pounded as she waited, the night pressing in around her. If Raj found something—anything—it would validate her suspicions. But if he didn’t... what would that mean for her ability to trust her instincts? And what would Rahul do if he even suspected what they were up to?
What seemed like hours but was probably only minutes later, Raj reappeared from the shadows, his movements so quiet that Ahanna barely noticed him until he was standing in front of her. His expression was unreadable, the firelight casting flickering shadows across his face. He crouched down beside her, resting his arms on his knees as he leaned in to speak.
"Nothing," Raj said in a low voice, his tone laced with frustration. "Clothes, ammo, the usual gear. If he's hiding something, it’s not in his pack."
Ahanna exhaled slowly, her shoulders sinking under the weight of disappointment. She had been so certain, so sure that Rahul had something incriminating tucked away. "You’re sure? No hidden compartments? No maps or papers?"
Raj gave her a hard look. "I checked everything. Even felt around for false bottoms. Nothing." He shook his head, his brows knitting together. "If he’s involved with the bandits, he’s not dumb enough to leave evidence lying around."
Ahanna pressed her lips into a thin line, glancing toward Rahul’s tent. Its silhouette was still and quiet, the faint sound of his steady breathing audible in the silence of the camp. "Maybe I was wrong," she said quietly, though the words didn’t feel true even as she spoke them.
"Or maybe he’s just better at covering his tracks than we thought," Raj muttered, his voice edged with skepticism. "Look, I trust your instincts, Ahanna, but you might be reaching here. He’s seeking vengeance for his brother, we both know that, yeah, but bandits? That’s a big leap."
Ahanna rubbed a hand over her face, her mind racing. She couldn’t shake the unease Rahul brought to the group, the way he had no hesitation about escalating violence, his cavalier attitude toward Crybaby and even their team. But Raj was right—she had no proof. Without that, she had nothing but suspicion.
"Maybe it is a leap," she admitted grudgingly, "but there’s something about him, Raj. Something’s off. You’ve seen how he acts—he’s a cold-blooded killer, looking for any excuse to shoot first and ask questions later."
"Yeah," Raj agreed, his voice quieter now. "But being trigger-happy and being in bed with bandits aren’t the same thing. If we start accusing people without evidence..." He let the sentence hang, but the implication was clear. Division within the group could be just as deadly as any threat from the jungle.
Ahanna nodded reluctantly, though her gut still churned with doubt. "Thanks for looking," she said.
Raj tilted his head slightly. "What now?"
Ahanna didn’t answer right away. She stared into the embers of the fire, the flickering glow mirrored in her dark eyes. "We watch him. We don’t let our guard down. If he’s hiding something, we’ll find it eventually."
Raj gave a short nod and rose to his feet. "Fair enough. Get some rest. You’ll need it."
Ahanna watched him walk away, disappearing into the shadows once more. She leaned back against her pack, staring up at the stars barely visible through the thick jungle canopy. Her mind refused to quiet.
Nothing. Just clothes and ammo.
Ahanna couldn’t see Raj’s face as he walked away to take his position for the first watch. She didn’t see the tears silently streaming down his cheeks, glistening in the faint moonlight. What she didn’t know was that Rahul had been wide awake, waiting for Raj, and had given him explicit instructions on what to say and do. If Raj hadn’t already been under Rahul’s thumb before, he was now—completely and irreversibly beholden to him. The weight of that control pressed down on Raj like a tonne of bricks, even as he gripped his rifle and disappeared into the shadows.
END OF CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
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